OPDV Memo Regarding GBV and the Workplace_8.29.2025.pdf
PDF 188 KB Posted
- Solicitation number
- 2138315
- Issued by
- Dutchess County, New York
About this file
This is a memorandum from the Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (OPDV) to New York State Agency Heads regarding new statutory requirements for Gender-Based Violence and the Workplace policies. The memo announces two legislative victories enacted in the FY 25-26 budget that became effective November 5, 2025: the codification of Executive Order 17 as N.Y. Executive Law § 171-h and the establishment of State Finance Law § 139-m. Executive Law § 171-h requires all covered Executive Agencies to adopt a Gender-Based Violence and the Workplace policy to support employee-survivors and designate at least one Domestic Violence Agency Liaison (DVAL) to serve as a resource for employee survivors. State Finance Law § 139-m extends this requirement to any entity bidding on competitive procurements for state agency contracts, necessitating the implementation of a Gender-Based Violence and the Workplace policy as a condition of bid submission. OPDV has developed a model policy available for adaptation by organizations to meet minimum standards.
OPDV is providing comprehensive support for implementation through multiple informational webinars scheduled for state agencies between September 16 and September 24, 2025, and for potential bidders and current vendors between October 1 and November 19, 2025. Bidders are required to submit an attestation of their Gender-Based Violence and the Workplace policy or provide an explanation for non-compliance with their bids. Agencies are instructed to review and update existing policies to reference the codified Executive Law § 171-h rather than Executive Order 17, and to submit updated policies to workplace@opdv.ny.gov for review. Technical assistance is available through OPDV's Gender-Based Violence and the Workplace team, and additional resources, including a model policy and webinar registration links, are available on the OPDV website at opdv.ny.gov.
View the file
Other files
On GovTribe
Work with this file
- Download the original file
- Contacts named in this file
- Similar government files
- Ask GovTribe AI about this file
Text version
KATHY HOCHUL
Governor
KELLI NICHOLAS OWENS
Executive Director, OPDV
80 S Swan St, Albany, NY 12210 | opdv.ny.gov | (518) 457-5800
Memorandum TO: All Agency Heads
FROM: Kelli Nicholas Owens, Executive Director
DATE: August 29, 2025
SUBJECT: Gender-Based Violence and the Workplace Updates to New York State Executive Law and State Finance Law
We are writing to celebrate two important victories for survivors of gender-based violence in New York through the enacted FY 25-26 budget that will impact your agency. New York State continues to lead the way in promoting safe and supportive workplaces for survivors. This year’s budget includes the codification of Executive Order 17 as N.Y. Exec. Law § 171-h and the establishment of State Finance Law § 139-m, which requires any entity bidding on competitive procurements for state agency contracts to implement a Gender-Based Violence and the Workplace policy. These laws are effective November 5, 2025.
Codification of Executive Order 17
Initially established in 2022 through an Executive Order, the newly codified law requires all covered Executive Agencies to adopt a Gender-Based Violence and the Workplace policy to support employee-survivors and hold accountable employees who misuse state resources to cause harm. The law also requires agencies to designate at least one Domestic Violence Agency Liaison (DVAL) to be a resource for employee survivors. Prospective DVALs must attend specific training from OPDV prior to serving in that role.
In 2022, OPDV worked with covered agencies to develop their Gender-Based Violence and the Workplace policies. OPDV asks that you review your Gender-Based Violence and the Workplace policy and amend any references to Executive Order 17 with the codified Executive Law § 171-h. If your agency makes any updates to your Gender-Based Violence and the Workplace policy, whether in response to this codification or other routine updates, you should submit the updated policy to workplace@opdv.ny.gov for review.
Establishment of State Finance Law § 139-m
The establishment of State Finance Law § 139-m requires any entity bidding on competitive procurements for state agency contracts to implement a Gender-Based Violence and the Workplace policy. OPDV has developed a model policy that bidders can adapt to suit their needs provided it meets the minimum standards. Bidders will submit an attestation of their policy or provide an explanation for why they are not able to meet this requirement with their bids.
mailto:workplace@opdv.ny.gov
KATHY HOCHUL
Governor
KELLI NICHOLAS OWENS
Executive Director, OPDV
80 S Swan St, Albany, NY 12210 | opdv.ny.gov | (518) 457-5800
OPDV is hosting multiple informational webinars for state agencies regarding this new requirement:
• Tuesday, September 16, 2025 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
• Friday, September 19, 2025 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
• Wednesday, September 24, 2025 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
We encourage your agency’s Chief Procurement Officer to attend.
OPDV will also host weekly webinars for potential bidders and current vendors. The webinars will explain the minimum requirements and review the model policy. Please encourage your current vendors to attend.
• Wednesday, October 1, 2025 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
• Wednesday, October 8, 2025 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
• Tuesday, October 14, 2025 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
• Thursday, October 23, 2025 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
• Wednesday, October 29, 2025 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
• Wednesday, November 5, 2025 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
• Thursday, November 13, 2025 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
• Wednesday, November 19, 2025 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Attached you will find a letter to help orient current vendors to this requirement for future bids.
OPDV asks that you please share this letter with your vendors.
OPDV has created a model policy that can be adopted or tailored to an organization’s needs.
The model policy is attached and will also be available, along with additional resources, on the OPDV Gender-Based Violence and the Workplace website.
We thank Governor Hochul for her commitment to survivor-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive work environments. This policy has the potential to positively impact thousands of people as supportive personnel policies can increase employee retention, reduce the effects of absenteeism, and promote financial wellbeing of survivors.
We hope you will join us for the Webinar for State Agencies and to help spread the word for the Bidder Webinar Series. Our Gender-Based Violence and the Workplace team is available to respond to requests for technical assistance: workplace@opdv.ny.gov.
https://meetny.webex.com/weblink/register/r6a8fd62e6d2140a71ae1929dfd7c7dd9 https://meetny.webex.com/weblink/register/rffa699459767ff35f9cad9486f260b29 https://meetny.webex.com/weblink/register/rc94ce36214648957da5975062ed8bbfb https://meetny.webex.com/weblink/register/rebcd87815195c0689eb206d4f7580fd0 https://meetny.webex.com/weblink/register/r12d0e1634b139e1b002647e7ecb97d0d https://meetny.webex.com/weblink/register/rd2ca95e16f668070116299ebcde7863d https://meetny.webex.com/weblink/register/rf6de30f215c02ae066eb532b513a0716 https://meetny.webex.com/weblink/register/r8feb0f4c0a1751d6c789ae086464a9c4 https://meetny.webex.com/weblink/register/rbbe565b5b4bc7a74f8657884d07f9122 https://meetny.webex.com/weblink/register/rddcc4c65e735d5adda1f741da6ba903e https://meetny.webex.com/weblink/register/r2ae10fb229924dcae619002008129fbc https://opdv.ny.gov/gender-based-violence-and-workplace mailto:workplace@opdv.ny.gov
Memorandum
File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated .